Synonyms of meager

meager

adjective

ˈmē-gər 

variants or meagre

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable

ever since he started the diet, his dinners have been more meager than he would like

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sparse
• scarce
• poor
• scant
• scanty
• skimpy
• lowest
• lacking
• insufficient
• small
• inadequate
• stingy
• mere
• exiguous
• slender
• light
• short
• minimal
• sparing
• spare
• slim
• hand-to-mouth
• thin on the ground
• skimp
• deficient
• least
• thin
• slightest
• bare-bones
• littlest
• bare
• wanting
• slight
• sterile
• unfruitful
• unproductive
• barren
• infertile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequate
• sufficient
• ample
• abundant
• generous
• plentiful
• copious
• enough
• bountiful
• satisfactory
• liberal
• rich
• tolerable
• fruitful
• plenteous
• fertile
• prolific
• fat
• lavish
• extra
• excess
• bursting
• luxuriant
• fecund
• surplus
• flourishing
• thriving
• proliferative
• teeming
• blooming
• swarming

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective meager differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of meager are scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, and sparse. While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

When is scant a more appropriate choice than meager?

The synonyms scant and meager are sometimes interchangeable, but scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

When would scanty be a good substitute for meager?

The words scanty and meager can be used in similar contexts, but scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

When can skimpy be used instead of meager?

While in some cases nearly identical to meager, skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

When might spare be a better fit than meager?

The meanings of spare and meager largely overlap; however, spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

In what contexts can sparse take the place of meager?

The words sparse and meager are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of meager

The only good news is that this shamefully meager level of affordability is up from 8% at the start of 2025. —Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026

The atolls and rocks that made up the Chagos Archipelago offered more meager economic possibilities. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026

Most of the 10-figure income stems from his roughly 20% stake in Blackstone, as Schwarzman boasts a relatively meager salary of $350,000. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026

The company is fighting a lawsuit from 2014 alleging detainees in Aurora had to perform unpaid janitorial work and other jobs for little pay to supplement meager meals. —ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026